Architectural woodwork in the American colonies began to receive decorative paint treatments by the early eighteenth century, often in imitation of marble or wood grain. While scholarship on this topic has focused primarily on the New England states, other areas along the eastern seaboard also exhibited lively interior color. This fireplace enclosure with ornamental mantel purportedly was removed from a home in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, along with a similarly paint-decorated group of doors. As the house is unidentified, it is not possible to assess how the vigorous decoration was integrated into the interior architectural framework.

The grain-painting techniques are the same as those employed by New England artisans but exhibit a different color and pattern sensibility. The upper frieze has columns on either side that are painted with a quiet, overall textured pattern. In between, a painted column separates the frieze into two panels. Each panel has four large, splashy corner fans in alternating colors, creating the optical effect of a shaped reserve with a central bull's eye against a textured field. The vibrant reds, greens, and yellows are related to other Pennsylvania German arts but also seem to refer to the fertile colors of the Pennsylvania landscape. This is reinforced by the treelike patterns on the front of each panel of the fireplace enclosure.

Stacy C. Hollander, "Mantel," in American Anthem: Masterworks from the American Folk Art Museum (New York: Harry N. Abrams in association with American Folk Art Museum, 2001), 320.